You can buy security cameras anywhere. But to have a truly functional, robust surveillance/recording/monitoring security camera system for your office in Plainfield, IL, you need system design, installation, programming, and integration with your data network from someone who truly understands both. Don't get sucked into contracting services from a "camera installer" for whom IT networks are just a sideline or vice versa.

For decades, Andromeda has served the IT/Security needs of small-to-medium sized organizations like yours in the greater Chicagoland IL/Indy area. We have cultivated expertise in both the data network "brains" as well as the camera/access control/alarm/communication "arms and legs" of office systems and have years of experience integrating these together for a diverse cross-section of businesses, municipalities, and other associations/organizations.

For added off-site protection and virtually unlimited storage:Ask Us About New Cloud-based DVR Recording Integration!

Your timing for creating or expanding a current security camera surveillance system could not be better. There is no longer a need for an expensive, dedicated system to monitor your premises. We also provide great options for expanding an older security camera system with better/newer analog and digital technology without scrapping what you might already have! By leveraging your existing IT network for your security camera system(s), Andromeda can save you time, money, and lots of headaches with efficient integrated systems that can do more than you probably imagined: real-time alerts, automated responses, and more.

We are a certified Panasonic Network Camera Installer. We utilize the
latest in IP Video Camera technology, which allows the cameras, DVR recording
and viewing all to be performed on your existing computer data network. This
allows you to use your existing investment in your data wiring and data
systems and extend that network into the security camera/webcam arena.

Please contact us or fill out a
New Contact form on this page to have an Account Manager contact you regarding the many ways we can assist you with your IT/computer networking needs.

Panasonic manufactures over 20 different types of network video
cameras. The following are some of the features that are available:
Wireless

Outdoor

Power-Over-Ethernet (PoE)

Digital and Optical Zoom

Very High Resolution

Low Light, Night Viewing

Motion and Thermal Activation

Full Pan, Tilt, and Zoom with Scanning Presets

2-Way Audio with Microphone and Speaker

The ability to record and later playback is an important and necessary
part of any video security system. There are many options available;
from on-camera memory sticks to a full-blown, searchable recording
system capable of storing months worth of video from all your cameras.
The viewing software is very user-friendly and easy to use.

Andromeda Technology Solutions will work to understand all your needs
and provide a solution that exactly fits those needs, and allows for
future growth if necessary. Our attention to detail will ensure you
receive a system that you will be 100% happy with.

Applications

There are many types of applications where it pays to see there, when
you cannot be there. Here are just a few types of oranizations that have
benefited from our security camera systems:

You can start with just a few cameras and expand the system as you
grow. It is very easy to add security cameras to the system, without throwing
away any of your initial investment.
There are options to synchronize recordings with your POS receipts, so
you can exactly match the video recording with an individual receipt
transaction.

The wide variety of camera types and camera options make the system
extremely flexible to fit almost any application.

We can also setup remote access for you to view live video or search
through recorded video, from any remote location with Internet access.
You can keep tabs on your business without having to be there.

Integrated Security works by allowing you to program a multitude of responses—both in the Cloud and as control back to external hardware—based on any number of triggers from external hardware regardless of origin/type (cameras, access sensors, alarm fault sensors, motion, smoke, temperature,...). This allows the entire system to more accurately assess the detailed nature of a security event and respond in the most precise/appropriate manner, virtually eliminating undue responses to false alarms.

Please contact us or fill out a
New Contact form on this page to have an Account Manager contact you regarding the many ways we can assist you with your IT/computer networking needs.

AndroPedia Tech Library

As part of our service, it is important to keep our client-partners well informed on Security Camera system developments, news, and best practices. Here is just a sampling of typical items from our AndroPediaSM library archive:

Integrated Security And Your Smartphone – Three Game Changing Features You’ll Want To ImplementMay 04, 2018

It’s no secret that smartphones, tablets and cloud services are changing the way businesses operate in 2018. Data from Pew Research Center – 95% of adult Americans now own a cellphone of some kind and 77% of those phones are smartphones.

Of these smartphone owners, a recent study from App Annie indicates that on average, a smartphone user spends over two hours daily using apps in their phone. There are a bunch of interesting stats:

An average person has 60-90 apps installed on their device

On average a smartphone user opens at least 9 apps a day

You can look at this more in depth here.

You can use your smartphone to access documents on the go, check in with your team and collaborate on projects – so why not apply that same availability and accessibility to your integrated security?

Read on to discover three ‘game changers’ you can take advantage of when you connect your smartphone and integrated security.

1. Smart Phone Badges for Access Control

Keyless entry is becoming more and more standard in professional buildings. It can streamline payroll, secure a building or section of a building and gives peace of mind among many other benefits. Traditionally, this technology has meant a reader at specific doors and key fobs or badges that allow/deny access once swiped. There can be issues with this though such as employees sharing key cards/fobs or losing them etc.

Within the last few years, access control systems have added the ability to scan smart phone devices for entry into buildings. With special programming and hardware the access control reader can use your smartphone just like a fob or keycard to grant or disallow access to your facility.

2. Remote Access via Smartphone for your Camera System

When it comes to cameras and recording equipment things have come a long way from recording footage to a hard copy of a tape. Recording equipment used to have restrictions on where you could view footage. Realistically, most installations involved cameras installed that hooked up to the recorder which also hooked up to a PC in a specific location. You could only view footage from that one PC.

Good thing those days are history!

CCTV Camera systems are now viewable from many different locations. You can install viewing software on your home PC, your laptop, your tablet and your smartphone. This means that when you are out of the office on business or when you want to see what’s going on at the office after hours, all you have to do is pull out your smartphone and open the software app.

Whether you are out of the office regularly for meetings or just gone for the evening it is stressful to wonder whether your alarm system is armed or whether someone accidentally left the back door open.

With today’s integrated security solutions and remote accessibility via smartphones/tablets, you don’t have to let those worries keep you up at night. You can arm and disarm your building with the touch of a button.

You can also lock and unlock doors at your facility.

When all of these features are put together you are able to see what’s going on at your office from your phone. You can lock and unlock doors when needed – say if an employee needs to get in after hours. You can also arm or disarm your burglar system from anywhere.

You’re basically unstoppable . . .

But really, integrated security and your smartphone are a match made in tech heaven. For more information on smartphone features and integrated security give us a call at (815) 836-0030 or send us an email at Contact@WeNetwork.com. We’d love to hear from you.

The post Integrated Security And Your Smartphone – Three Game Changing Features You’ll Want To Implement appeared first on Andromeda Technology Solutions.

IP Or Analog? The benefits and disadvantages of both professional camera systemsNov 09, 2018

Professional Camera Systems– Which Security Camera’s Right For You?

So you’re interested in professional camera systems for your business . . .

There are many different variables to consider:

Locations – Inside, outside?

Purpose – Are these cameras in place to deter theft? Monitor a parking lot? Watch a production line?

Lighting – Do you need them to capture footage at night? Are there any lights around that might impact image quality or maybe a complete lack of a light source?

Accessibility – Do the cameras need to be out of reach? If they are outside, is there space to attach them to the building?

These are just a few things to consider and there are many more.

That being said, one major factor can impact all of these and is one of the first things you should consider.

Analog or IP Professional Camera Systems?

That may sound like another language but for the most part, the difference boils down to how a video signal is delivered.

Basically, Analog cameras turn video footage into a format that is received by your recording device (DVR) and displayed on a monitor or television. IP security cameras send their footage over cable or wireless and the footage is decoded by a network device. Essentially, IP security cameras run on a network and the system is more like an extension of your IT infrastructure while Analog professional camera systems are a separate type of technology.

This may sound confusing but at the end of the day both systems can get the job done.

As always, our goal is to take the complication out of technology and provide our customers with a solution that simply works.

That being said, here are some simple pros and cons for both systems that should help you figure out which is right for you.

Analog Professional Camera Systems

Benefits –

Budget Friendly – an analog system is often the less expensive option.

Variety & Custom Design Options – Analog systems tend to be easier to customize. With a large variety of camera styles and functions, these systems answer your unique needs and if you believe that your job requires some specific or unusual surveillance components, analog may be your best option.

Dependable Technology – analog systems have been around a very long time and as such, have many software and hardware compatibilities. If you want a camera system that can integrate well with other technologies, it is important to look into compatibility before choosing anything.

Disadvantages –

Security risks – these days we have to consider cyber security and while the probability of this happening remains low, the analog signals cannot be encrypted which means that someone else could get their hands on our signal.

Certain features missing – While most anything you are looking to do are possible on analog systems, there are limitations. Digital zoom is one example. For images that you will need to zoom a lot and maintain clear images, analog may not be your best option.

Image quality limits – One of the most well-known drawbacks of digital systems is that the image quality is not always as clear as the IP alternative. If a crystal clear image is something you are after, it is best to consider all variables, desired zoom, PTZ requirements, face recognition, lighting etc.

IP Professional Camera Systems

Benefits –

Less signal interference/higher security – As this is a different type of signal run on a network, there is less likelihood for signal interference. Also, these systems are able to encrypt and further secure data. This means higher security and less risk of intrusion into your security system.

More remote access possibilities – it should be stated that today’s analog systems have remote access capabilities and software but IP systems have a large array of options for remote viewing. PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet, all are places you can review your footage.

Wireless options – because these systems can use your existing infrastructure, they don’t always need heavy wiring and can often take advantage of wireless technology. This gives you more flexibility for system design at times.

Disadvantages –

Higher costs – IP cameras can run a large range of prices. It isn’t abnormal to pay a thousand or even several thousand dollars for a single camera depending on the specifications. On top of this, if your network doesn’t have proper setup, you may need to invest to get things up to speed.

Bandwidth requirements – as with anything on your network, you are adding demand to your bandwidth. With this in mind it is important to make sure that you don’t need to increase your service. Will adding the security system to your network slow things down in the office? Make sure to discuss this with your vendor and your service provider.

With the different options on the market for security cameras, it is important that you consider your unique needs and compare them before purchasing any professional camera systems. Don’t allow a vendor to push you any one way without exploring the different technologies and how they fit your business.

A vendor who can supply both IP and Analog systems is a great place to start.

Andromeda has professional teams and representatives available to help you discuss your project and provide you with plans for the system that fits your needs; IP, Analog or even a mixture of both.

The post IP Or Analog? The benefits and disadvantages of both professional camera systems appeared first on Andromeda Technology Solutions.

Apple Adds Physical Security Feature To New MacBookNov 13, 2018

In recent months, hackers around the world have been finding new ways to invade people's privacy, hijacking an increasing number of cameras and microphones attached to smartphones and PCs.� Apple is responding to the evolving threat by introducing a new layer of physical security to their latest MacBooks.

The company has created a custom security chip which introduces a means of physically disconnecting the PC's built-in microphone any time the user closes the lid on the machine.

As the company explains:

"This disconnect is implemented in hardware alone, and therefore prevents any software, even with root or kernel privileges in macOS, and even the software on the T2 (security) chip, from engaging the microphone when the lid is closed."

It's a good move that helps at the margins, but it's far from being a comprehensive solution.� After all, you're still vulnerable while you're working, reading, or watching something on your computer, but it is an undeniably good first step.

The new security chip does far more than merely serving as a means to disable the built-in microphone, however.� It provides a host of new security enhancements that, when combined with the macBook's Touch ID system, makes the PC more secure than it ever has been.

On top of that, the T2 chip provides a number of non-security features as well, including:

Auto balancing the FaceTime HD camera

Enhancing the Apple video encoder and audio controller

Controls the ambient sensor and the system management controller (SMC)

Acts as an image processer that enables enhanced tone mapping

In short then, it's a good addition that's destined to make an already great computer even better.� Unfortunately, it's just a matter of time before the hackers figure out ways around most, if not all the new enhanced security features. Then the arms race will continue to its next phase.

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Executive Summary

Authorized Dealer for Panasonic Network Cameras

We have cameras and recording solutions for every possible application.